Suture passer and methods of tissue repair
AssigneeArthrex, Inc.
InventorsNathanael I. Gamso, Thomas Dooney, Jr., Andrew C. Petry, Shaun G. Leblanc, Jennifer Brooks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for tissue repairs with mattress stitch are disclosed. A mattress stitch is created with a suture passer and a suturing construct using only one portal and without shuttling steps. The suture passer is provided with two sharp teeth or tines that pierce tissue (or tissue and associated graft) at two different locations. The suturing construct can be a loop terminating in a tail. The tail is passed from one tooth to another and then secured into a securing mechanism of one of the two sharp teeth. The tail is passed through the loop to form a cinch loop around and through the tissue (or the tissue and the graft).
Claims8
A suture passer comprising:
- a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;
- a first jaw member integral to the distal end of the shaft, the first jaw member having a passage for receiving a needle and a distal opening to allow the needle to pass therethrough;
- a second jaw member mounted to the distal end of the shaft and integral to the distal end of the shaft, the second jaw member comprising a through opening and a securing mechanism, wherein the securing mechanism is configured to catch a flexible strand at a most distal end of the second jaw member when the suture passer is pulled out of tissue, or tissue and associated graft, the securing mechanism and the through opening being located in about a same plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft,
- wherein each of the first jaw member and the second jaw member terminates in a sharp tip configured to pierce the tissue, or the tissue and the associated graft,
- wherein the flexible strand runs outside the shaft and along the shaft in a direction about parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and is positioned within the distal opening of the first jaw to rest about perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
- and
- a handle assembly configured to move the needle from the first jaw member to the second jaw member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.